Richard was aware if their good luck continued they would soon reach the cargo bay and once through the hangar he was out of the damn spacecraft, free and safe. He wasn’t sure what would happen next. Transporting him back to civilization wouldn’t be a priority of the Americans or the British. He’d probably be confined aboard the American ship until the salvage operation had been completed before any transport could be arranged. Anything was better than being aboard this death ship. Once he’d left this godforsaken frozen world, he would never return.
Richard paused at the top of the staircase and glanced at the two Clickers the SEALs had killed earlier highlighted by Jenkins flashlight.
Talbot glanced around worriedly, his weapon light searching the darkness. “Why have you stopped?”
Richard pointed at the corpses. “Relax. The Clickers haven’t been eaten. It’s a good sign the area’s free of monsters.”
Richard’s observation brought the soldiers a little comfort. They too would be glad to reach the exit. Though they wouldn’t be allowed to leave, duties around the hangar were far preferable to roaming through the ship where death could strike at any moment.
Talbot took the lead down the staircase and along the corridor at its base. He stopped after a few feet and stared ahead as his eyes and flashlight searched the darkness.
It was Richard’s turn to worry. He frowned. “What is it?”
Talbot shook his head. “I’m not sure. I thought I heard something.”
“Maybe it was just the ship creaking,” suggested Jenkins, hopefully, who had turned to point his weapon back along the corridor.
“Maybe, but shouldn’t one of you go and check?” Richard suggested. “Your orders are to protect me.” He was so close to the exit now he didn’t want to take any risks.
Talbot scowled at Richard. “If you think your death would cause anyone concern, think again. All our lives are expendable when compared to the salvaging of alien technology.”
Richard was under no illusions the man’s words weren’t the truth. “That’s as maybe, but if my life’s at risk, so is yours. I’m only trying to keep you alive.”
“That will be a cold day in hell when I put my life in your hands, however…” Talbot looked at Jenkins. “Keep me covered while I go check.”
Jenkins nodded and pushed Richard to the side so he had a clear view of the corridor. They watched Talbot cautiously approach the intersection and after a brief pause he disappeared around the corner.
Neither Jenkins nor Richard noticed the floor hatch lift slightly behind them or the tentacle that slithered out and searched for the disturbance it had heard above its domain. It moved between Richard’s feet without detecting his presence, but when its probing tip touched Jenkins’ boot, it seemed to sniff the strange object. Satisfied it was something that could be consumed, it rose into the air and coiled back like a snake about to strike before shooting forward. It wrapped around Jenkins’s ankles, clamped his legs together and pulled. Jenkins toppled to the floor when his feet were yanked out from under him. Richard was knocked off balance when Jenkins crashed into him and collided hard against the wall before dropping to the floor.
Jenkins screamed as he was dragged backward. His hands scrabbled about for something to stop him. The only thing within reach was Richard’s leg, and he grabbed it.
Richard recovered from his shock and glanced at the hatch cover that slammed loudly against the floor, the tentacle attached to Jenkins’ ankle snaking from the opening, and Jenkins’s terrified expression.
“Help me,” pleaded Jenkins.
The man’s desperate plea fell on deaf ears; there was only one person Richard planned on helping, and it wasn’t Jenkins.
“Let go of me!” yelled Richard savagely. Ignoring the man’s screams, he kicked at Jenkins’ hand with his other foot. When he was free, he crab-walked out of the man’s reach as Jenkins grabbed for his foot again.
Running footsteps approached from behind Richard as Jenkins was pulled through the opening so forcefully the back of his head slammed against the edge. Talbot ran past Richard and threw himself to the floor. He thrust his arms into the hole to help his friend, but Jenkins was already out of reach. Highlighted by the rifle falling with him, Talbot watched Jenkins disappear into the darkness until he was lost from his sight.
Talbot turned and glared at Richard accusingly. “What the fuck just happened.”
“Hey, it wasn’t my fault. Something grabbed him and pulled him into the hole. I told you weapons wouldn’t protect you from everything in this ship.”
“And I bet you’re so pleased you’ve been proven right,” Talbot replied angrily.
Richard shook his head. “Not at all! We now only have one weapon. The good news is that we don’t have far to go now, so I suggest we move before that thing returns.”
Talbot turned away before he struck the man, and shone his light into the hole. “Jenkins!” he shouted.
Richard climbed to his feet. “You’re wasting your time. The man’s already food for whatever monstrosity lives down there.”
The stare Talbot aimed at Richard was fierce and angry. “Go if you want, but it’s my time to waste and I’m not leaving until I know for certain if Jenkins’ alive or dead.”
Richard, oblivious or unconcerned by the man’s temperament, continued to rile him. “Stick your ear in the hole and you’ll probably hear his bones crunching.” Richard’s eyes flicked to something behind Talbot. “Shit, we need to leave, now!”
Talbot spun and dodged back to avoid the tentacle zooming towards him. He aimed his weapon and fired a short burst, cutting the tentacle to shreds. A screech drifted up the shaft and something thumping on the metal sides quickly followed.
Richard backed away. “Well done, now you’ve really pissed it off.”
“And you think that makes it any less friendly than it was before?”
Richard shrugged. “It can’t have helped.”
Talbot cautiously approached the opening and peered inside. A mass of tentacles surged up the shaft. He fired into the hole. Tentacles peppered with bullet holes shot from the opening and grabbed him. They twisted around his legs and waist and pulled him off his feet. Talbot tried to aim his weapon at them, but his shoulders slammed into the floor when he was jerked towards the hole.
Richard’s first instinct was to flee. His second was there might be monsters between him and the exit. Unarmed and without a light he might not make it very far. He sprinted for Talbot and grabbed the rifle.
Talbot kept a tight grip on the weapon and glared at Richard. “Let go of the damn rifle and grab my arms.”
“I can’t kill monsters with your arms. Let me have the rifle and I’ll save you.”
“Like fuck you will.” As Talbot slipped into the hole, he grabbed Richard’s leg, tripping him to the floor.
Richard kicked at Talbot’s head in an attempt to release the desperate man’s grip, but it was too late. Both men were pulled into the shaft and both screamed as they fell.
With the route to the weapon store memorized as much as they could in the brief time they had managed to study the map before it went dark, the SEAL team moved through the ship towards their goal. The threat of constant attack by the spaceship’s vicious inhabitants hampered their progress as every open side door, turning and intersection had to be checked before they could progress past it.
Their latest holdup was a staircase leading down to a half-landing before turning back on itself. They briefly paused at the top to look below and alert for monsters they slowly descended with their eyes searching below for anything that might be waiting to surprise them.